DirecTV a boon to The Tennis Channel, tennis

Editor’s note: CBHM is hosting former TennisJuicer JNP as a guest blogger. JNP will contribute five posts between now and the end of the 2007 French Open.

Thousands of DirecTV-using tennis fans got their wish on Monday: DirecTV announced that they have reached an agreement with The Tennis Channel and will finally be carrying TTC starting this summer. Part of DirecTV’s plans include an agreement with ESPN to share U.S. cable TV and multimedia rights for the French Open and Australian Open through 2011.

TTC is currently estimated to be in about 10 million homes nationwide, and is projected to be in 6 to 8 million more homes once the channel is available on DirecTV. The growth of this channel will not only help avid tennis fans get their daily fix of coverage, but will hopefully lead to innovative techniques in covering matches and a better perspective of the international feel for the game. After all, doesn’t more match coverage mean more views from around the globe? What’s wrong with that?

This deal is coming at just the right time… Federer vs. Nadal is easily one of the most important and interesting rivalries in sports. TTC’s expansion can potentially lead to these big matches being available to many, many more people. This is a step in the right direction, even if you can’t afford DirecTV or Dish — you will have one more reason to work hard, improve your life, and, get the gift that is The Tennis Channel.